Alcoholic beverages: beer.

The California Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization proposes to modernize the state's legal definition of beer, expanding permitted ingredients while clarifying production standards. The measure would allow brewers to use grains beyond traditional barley and malt, specify the use of drinkable water in fermentation, and establish guidelines for adjunct ingredients like honey, fruit, herbs, and spices.

Under the revised definition, beer aged in wooden barrels previously used for wine or spirits would maintain its classification as beer rather than being considered a mixture of alcoholic beverages. The legislation maintains existing categories like ale, porter, stout, and lager while explicitly excluding sake from the definition. These changes aim to align state regulations with contemporary brewing practices while preserving distinct classifications between beer and other alcoholic beverages.

The proposal requires no new appropriations or fiscal commitments, with enforcement continuing through existing regulatory frameworks. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control would oversee implementation of the updated standards through its current licensing and inspection protocols.